President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his sadness and that of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and all Nigerians on the sad news of the passing away of Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, who until his death, was Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator and Director General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations.
President Muhammadu Buhari who is in the United States of America for the UN summit released a statement via his Special Assistant where he commiserated with the grieving family of Chiedu Osakwe. The statement released a few hours ago reads:
“On behalf of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and all Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with the family of Nigeria’s Chief Trade Negotiator and Director General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations, Amb. Chiedu Osakwe”.
“The President notes, with deep pain, that the passing of Amb Osakwe has created a gulf in Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations, which he served as pioneer Dir-General, bringing invaluable experience, knowledge & skill in setting up & motivating the operations of the agency that was established in 2017.
President Buhari commiserates with all friends, relations and professional associates of the deceased, who served the country for many years as Foreign Service Officer, before joining the World Trade Organisation, and later accepting to return to the country as a Trade Adviser to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and Director General of Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations.
The President affirms that the intellectual depth, fervour and sense of patriotism that Amb. Osakwe handled responsibilities will be sorely missed, especially the frontline and historical role of chairing the Negotiating Forum of the African Union (AU) from June 2017 to March 2018, during which time the negotiations were concluded on the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will receive the soul of the cerebral diplomat, scholar and administrator, and comfort his family” the Presidency had stated.